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Board questions pond level and pumping at Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival site
Summary
Planners raised concerns that the pond at the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival site is higher than restoration plans specified, questioned pump capacity and discharge sizing, and flagged dam safety discussions with DEC; agency staff described irrigation uses and the repurposed pump system.
Chair raised concerns that the pond level is significantly higher than the restoration-plan target (about 4 feet) and warned that plantings intended for the north end would be inundated if the level remains elevated.
Agency official said the pond is kept low by a repurposed irrigation pump, which the agency described as pumping roughly "550 gallons a minute," and noted one pump was reported inoperable and needs attention. Chair and other members questioned whether the discharge piping (measured informally at about 6–7 inches) is sized to move water quickly after storm events.
The board discussed dam‑safety oversight and whether DEC has inspected the dam; Agency official said there are ongoing conversations with DEC but no remediation is currently in progress because options are costly.
Board requested verification that pumps and float controls operate as intended and reiterated the need to keep the reservoir low except during extreme events to protect both plantings and dam safety.
Next steps: agency to check pump operation and report back; board to track DEC communications and continued compliance with the approved restoration plan.
